Phoenix are pretty much playing for pride but a win for City will see them equal on points with WSW and us.A WSW win in the second game will give get 3 points clear of us and a Perth win will see them leapfrog Sydney FC and Victory into 5th spot on the ladder.

The hottest team in the A-League are on the back of a 13-game unbeaten run. They have four of the last six away from home ? including that huge battle with the Wanderers ? but confidence is soaring in the City of Churches.

Still right in the hunt despite a recent poor run of form. This Friday?s clash with Wanderers is massive and still to play Victory twice in the run home which could go a long way to determining where each side finishes at the end of the regular season.

Four of the last six at home is a plus for John van ?t Schip?s troops, starting with a huge battle with the Sky Blues on Saturday night. Have to play the dominant Reds twice in the run in ? including on the final day of the regular season.

A tricky end to the season for the champions, mixed in with ACL commitments. The home game with the Wanderers in a few weeks will be huge and they will probably need three wins in total to confirm a finals berth.

Like Victory, a tough period ahead with two campaigns to fight. Two home games to finish the season will be welcome, especially the Round 27 clash with Glory which could be a straight shoot-out for sixth spot.

Their club-record winning run ended on the weekend but momentum still seems to be with Glory. They play the resurgent Jets twice in a month, starting with this Monday, with results in those games very much key to sneaking into the six.

Looked dead and buried a month ago but now eyeing a finals berth. Only play twice at home on the run in which is difficult with the games against Glory (x2) and Victory likely to decide their finals fate over the next month.

Finals look out of reach for Ernie Merrick?s side but showed in their win over City they will be a handful over the last six games. Could throw a spanner in the works for a few sides chasing a finals berth with games against Sydney, Perth and Victory.

Only pride to play for over the last six weeks with the club all-but assured of the wooden spoon. But they will have a big say in who wins the Premiership and makes the six with games against the Wanderers and Reds and Victory and Sydney to come while a final round F3 Derby will be a must-win for their success-starved fans.

Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/article/a-league-run-to-the-finals-club-by-club-guide/1nv2pk5jl1gsy1fjmbxmup0mag#hmlZfdZvOsl5bQvG.99 (http://www.a-league.com.au/article/a-league-run-to-the-finals-club-by-club-guide/1nv2pk5jl1gsy1fjmbxmup0mag#hmlZfdZvOsl5bQvG.99)

At the moment, you'd think the Reds would win both, as they have the more rounded side, both in attack and defence. Melbourne might have signed some good CBs, but for me, they're still a bit fragile, which the Reds will target

At the moment, you'd think the Reds would win both, as they have the more rounded side, both in attack and defence. Melbourne might have signed some good CBs, but for me, they're still a bit fragile, which the Reds will target

City against Adelaide and against us the following week. Very big two games for them.

Looks like Jai Ingham is going to turn out to be a bit more than a squad player. Racking up first team starts for Victory, assisted both goals and drew both yellows from Michael Neil to have Mariners a man down with 45 to play.

The fact that they picked Ingham up as a mature aged rookie which means he is outside the salary cap and yet still only 22.

I guess that's the difference between us and them. They have funds we have none. Plenty of people here are always asking the question about how some teams are not over the cap. Well this is a perfect example. BRFC struggled to reach the minimum amount of the cap you must spend on players at the start of the season.

The fact that they picked Ingham up as a mature aged rookie which means he is outside the salary cap and yet still only 22.

I guess that's the difference between us and them. They have funds we have none. Plenty of people here are always asking the question about how some teams are not over the cap. Well this is a perfect example. BRFC struggled to reach the minimum amount of the cap you must spend on players at the start of the season.

And Finsta you just asked it mate. Funny how we were both writing at the same time. I posted something here from the FFA about all the exemptions out side the cap for players a while ago.

A joke on FB was that he'd blame the ball boy. Wouldn't have put it past him. As someone said in another thread, if they don't make the finals, he'll be sacked. Although, if you believe Mike Cockerill on the Roundtable, he won't be. Whether they make it through the group stage in the ACL could be pivotal in the decision

So Wanderers beat Newcastle 1-0, putting them level on points with us, but we have a better goal difference. Also, now confirmed that, for the first time in the club's history, they are the wooden spooners this season. Table -

A joke on FB was that he'd blame the ball boy. Wouldn't have put it past him. As someone said in another thread, if they don't make the finals, he'll be sacked. Although, if you believe Mike Cockerill on the Roundtable, he won't be. Whether they make it through the group stage in the ACL could be pivotal in the decision

I dont think he will be sacked either. The ACL is taking it's toll once again. Victory and Syd in uncontrolled slides. It happens all the time. Careful because yours truly could be headed back into the ACL.

A joke on FB was that he'd blame the ball boy. Wouldn't have put it past him. As someone said in another thread, if they don't make the finals, he'll be sacked. Although, if you believe Mike Cockerill on the Roundtable, he won't be. Whether they make it through the group stage in the ACL could be pivotal in the decision

I dont think he will be sacked either. The ACL is taking it's toll once again. Victory and Syd in uncontrolled slides. It happens all the time. Careful because yours truly could be headed back into the ACL.

In our first season in the ACL after doing the double the previous season we finished 2nd in the Premiership, 2 points behind the Mariners, and won the Championship.The Mariners finished 2nd in 2010-11 and 1st in 2011-12 while also having to deal with ACL commitments.It can be done BUT, us and CCM were THE dominant teams in that 2 year period, and CCM went on to win the GF the following year as well.

Tards couldn't beat a 10man Jets side, and Sydney cough up a 2-0 lead late on to draw with the team in last place. All that after they beat a team each with a single player that is more expensive than their entire team. Definitely a weird but wonderful thing

Tards couldn't beat a 10man Jets side, and Sydney cough up a 2-0 lead late on to draw with the team in last place. All that after they beat a team each with a single player that is more expensive than their entire team. Definitely a weird but wonderful thing

Yes very unusual season... could be then that this unpredictability carries through to the finals and a 5th or 6 th placed team wins the Toilet Seat.

Tards couldn't beat a 10man Jets side, and Sydney cough up a 2-0 lead late on to draw with the team in last place. All that after they beat a team each with a single player that is more expensive than their entire team. Definitely a weird but wonderful thing

Yes very unusual season... could be then that this unpredictability carries through to the finals and a 5th or 6 th placed team wins the Toilet Seat.

I'd say on Friday nights showing, Melbourne City are the team to beat.

They look hungry for success in a way that no one else is. Only question is will they choke? I'd say maybe in the GF, but up till then, they're not really going to have time to relax and think about it.

I honestly can't see any of SFC, MV or PG being consistent/good enough to beat more than one of the top four at the moment in a finals run.

Having said that we'll probably end up with a Victory v Glory grand final now, but hey, if we knew what was going to happen before it did, no one would bother playing or watching, and discussion boards like this wouldn't exist.

As of last nights result with wsw going down to victory, although an unlikely outcome 5th and 6th could still reach the top of the table. If the top 4 were to perform poorly in the next 3 games and city and adl to draw when they play it could happen. Such a plate full in the next 2 weeks. #All 6 in the mix.

Adelaide winning by 2...... doubly bad for us as Adelaide get the 3points and a nice buffer for their Goal Differential.

Looking to the Final 11 games of the season before the finals, the tough thing for us is if it comes down to GD, we're not placed very well at all.

City +19 (AND a game in hand)Adelaide +13Perth +10Brisbane +8Wanderers +6

Because of Glory's GD, we NEED to beat Newcastle next Sunday (which would ensure Glory couldn't overtake us as we'd be 7 points clear of them with their two games to be played). Also, a win over Newcastle guarantees us a Top 4 finish, and thus a home final.

Positions 1 to 5 are separated by just 4 points with 2 games left. holy F*** its going to be close

Yep. With us on 44pts, each position below each is by 1pt. If Melbourne City win tomorrow vs Nix, they go level with us, which will see us go down to 2nd as they have a far superior goal difference to us

He is the sort of import all teams should apsire to. Just shows the impact of a good visa import.

Can we talk city into a 2 for 1 deal and send Polenz and Hervas their way in exchange

Like Berisha, he had a very unimpressive record before arriving. Very hard to come across those diamonds in the rough.

Fornaroli had 18 goals from 108 league appearances, his best being 10 from 12 for Nacional in his debut professional season in 2007-08.

Apart from that, he's really done bugger all at 5 other clubs before moving to Melbourne.

Three years with Sampdoria though suggest, that, like Berisha, he's got some ability, just not quite good enough to make it at the top level. Just goes to show yet again, that we should be looking for forwards that have been on the books of top clubs, but didn't quite make it.

City were absolute garbage. Obviously convinced that they had lost the premiership and JVS didn't have what it took to motivate them. Regardless, a win is what was always required tomorrow due to the likelyhood of WSW beating the Nix and going ahead of us on GD. Nothing has changed.

Well that's it pretty much . Wanderers 2-0 up half time . We drop to 3rd .

Unbelievably scrappy and sheer fluke that they got the first. Once ahead they just needed to hit Wellington on the counter which was the second goal.Wellington have looked bright in patches with Redmayne being the busier goal keeper, but can't see them coming back

Very happy with the way JA has moved the club this season. CLub is moving fwd with younger players coming through, new training facilities, updated football policies.

All we need is for more people to get behind the club. Every player looks at Victory and WSW and wants that level of support. This club deserves it, the outgoing players deserve it. I'm hoping the supports and there friends will come along on Friday and support the team through the finals series. A big crowd will make a difference.

I think that Citeh would have to be losing for Mooy to lose it. He seems a very cool, calm character when things are going well.

He is liable for a brain fade if people niggle him too much like la Rocca likes to do, plus Fornaroli likes to be selfish.....

If Adelaide play the niggle hacking game again like they did last week it's a chance of happening or an injury that would keep either of them out.

He does have a tendency to mistime tackles. One poor tackle from behind and he could be off

do yellow cards count in the finals series???? how many do you need for a 1 match ban?

They get expunged before the Finals series starts. Once it starts, it reverts back to the regular way. So if he was sent off, he misses the next game (which would be us were they to win)

In the Finals Series you need to accumulate 3 yellow cards before you serve a mandatory one match suspension. If you accumulate 2 yellow cards in the same match they do not count for the purposes of accumulation. This means you cannot miss the Grand Final through picking up a single yellow card in each of the maximum 2 games you are able to play before the Grand Final. If you do pick up one yellow in each of the maximum 3 games including the Grand Final you will serve a one match suspension in the first game of the next A-League season.

I think that Citeh would have to be losing for Mooy to lose it. He seems a very cool, calm character when things are going well.

He is liable for a brain fade if people niggle him too much like la Rocca likes to do, plus Fornaroli likes to be selfish.....

If Adelaide play the niggle hacking game again like they did last week it's a chance of happening or an injury that would keep either of them out.

He does have a tendency to mistime tackles. One poor tackle from behind and he could be off

do yellow cards count in the finals series???? how many do you need for a 1 match ban?

They get expunged before the Finals series starts. Once it starts, it reverts back to the regular way. So if he was sent off, he misses the next game (which would be us were they to win)

In the Finals Series you need to accumulate 3 yellow cards before you serve a mandatory one match suspension. If you accumulate 2 yellow cards in the same match they do not count for the purposes of accumulation. This means you cannot miss the Grand Final through picking up a single yellow card in each of the maximum 2 games you are able to play before the Grand Final. If you do pick up one yellow in each of the maximum 3 games including the Grand Final you will serve a one match suspension in the first game of the next A-League season.

I think that Citeh would have to be losing for Mooy to lose it. He seems a very cool, calm character when things are going well.

He is liable for a brain fade if people niggle him too much like la Rocca likes to do, plus Fornaroli likes to be selfish.....

If Adelaide play the niggle hacking game again like they did last week it's a chance of happening or an injury that would keep either of them out.

He does have a tendency to mistime tackles. One poor tackle from behind and he could be off

do yellow cards count in the finals series???? how many do you need for a 1 match ban?

They get expunged before the Finals series starts. Once it starts, it reverts back to the regular way. So if he was sent off, he misses the next game (which would be us were they to win)

In the Finals Series you need to accumulate 3 yellow cards before you serve a mandatory one match suspension. If you accumulate 2 yellow cards in the same match they do not count for the purposes of accumulation. This means you cannot miss the Grand Final through picking up a single yellow card in each of the maximum 2 games you are able to play before the Grand Final. If you do pick up one yellow in each of the maximum 3 games including the Grand Final you will serve a one match suspension in the first game of the next A-League season.

And a straight red?

Depends on which club it is ;)

Title: Lets go City
Post by: My.2cents on April 22, 2016, 07:56:57 PM

Since the lets go Draw thread has been locked since Feb. I thought I'd start this one.Go City. We want a BRFC Suncorp GF!

So, after tonight's game, irrespective of what happens in the final 2 games, we are assured (at worst) of a playoff spot in the 2017 ACL..... for now. Unless the FFA Cup winners this season finally get acknowledgment..... in which case, there's a high chance of 'get fucked'. To be honest though, finishing 3rd AND losing a semi would hardly be worth ANY reward to be fair.

FWIW, FFA have confirmed the GF will be at Adelaide Oval - http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw (http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw)

FWIW, FFA have confirmed the GF will be at Adelaide Oval - [url]http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw[/url] ([url]http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw[/url])

To note how big this is for the city of Adelaide, they've only hosted 2 Grand Finals previously. Both in the NSL days.

1994-95 - Melbourne Knights dft Adelaide 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium1986 - Adelaide City hosted the first leg of the Grand Final series against Sydney Olympic at Hindmarsh Stadium. (And Adelaide lost that 'home Grand Final' leg 1-0 as well....... so Adelaide teams are 0-2 in hosted Grand Final games.)

FWIW, FFA have confirmed the GF will be at Adelaide Oval - [url]http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw[/url] ([url]http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw[/url])

To note how big this is for the city of Adelaide, they've only hosted 2 Grand Finals previously. Both in the NSL days.

1994-95 - Melbourne Knights dft Adelaide 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium1986 - Adelaide City hosted the first leg of the Grand Final series against Sydney Olympic at Hindmarsh Stadium. (And Adelaide lost that 'home Grand Final' leg 1-0 as well....... so Adelaide teams are 0-2 in hosted Grand Final games.)

Think of how big the first Grand Final hosting was for us.

Now transfer that balls-out excitement to Adelaide.

balls? what balls? i lived there for 2 years and all they did was choke on the krispy kreme donuts...

So, after tonight's game, irrespective of what happens in the final 2 games, we are assured (at worst) of a playoff spot in the 2017 ACL..... for now. Unless the FFA Cup winners this season finally get acknowledgment..... in which case, there's a high chance of 'get fucked'. To be honest though, finishing 3rd AND losing a semi would hardly be worth ANY reward to be fair.

So, after tonight's game, irrespective of what happens in the final 2 games, we are assured (at worst) of a playoff spot in the 2017 ACL..... for now. Unless the FFA Cup winners this season finally get acknowledgment..... in which case, there's a high chance of 'get fucked'. To be honest though, finishing 3rd AND losing a semi would hardly be worth ANY reward to be fair.

So if we beat WSW do we get a ACL spot or do we have to win GF also?

Under the current system,

We'd have to win the Grand Final to get a 2017 ACL Group Stage spot. Anything less, and it's hosting the playoff on 7 Feb 2017...... UNLESS the FFA does something with the 2016 FFA Cup and ACL qualification.

Ill do my best to get to the GF if we get through... but i bloody hate watching football games at football and cricket OVALS..

Ruins the viewing experience, and after seeing how the pitch was for a Socceroos game, i'd hate to see it now the AFL has started....

Since when does the view of the game matter when it comes to supporting your club?

I can support my club in many ways, i don't have to go those or away matches to support my team... if you have a foxtel subscription, to watch A League you are effectively supporting them with the TV money.

I have my season membership so i can watch the games at suncorp on the half way line...

As a supporter, i want to "watch" the game... I'm not a supporter that just wants to be a supporter to make me feel good.

You have supporters that spend the whole game drunk and hardly recall the game, yet they are a supporter as well.

Sitting 60mtrs from the halfway line isn't fun if you want to watch the game..

FWIW, FFA have confirmed the GF will be at Adelaide Oval - [url]http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw[/url] ([url]http://www.a-league.com.au/article/adelaide-oval-to-host-hyundai-a-league-2016-grand-final/1hjlgre8xm53k1c85pmjhumsbw[/url])

To note how big this is for the city of Adelaide, they've only hosted 2 Grand Finals previously. Both in the NSL days.

1994-95 - Melbourne Knights dft Adelaide 2-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium1986 - Adelaide City hosted the first leg of the Grand Final series against Sydney Olympic at Hindmarsh Stadium. (And Adelaide lost that 'home Grand Final' leg 1-0 as well....... so Adelaide teams are 0-2 in hosted Grand Final games.)

Think of how big the first Grand Final hosting was for us.

Now transfer that balls-out excitement to Adelaide.

A good omen at least, should be make it. Will also be the first GF that we've been in and haven't hosted

Holy crap this Adelaide squad is good. I sincerely hope that we are using more than 2 visa players next season. So many other teams are hugely lifted by their imports, yet we had 3 that aren't worth putting in the match day squad. Really hope we can ditch Polenz as I imagine he would be on good money. Really hope JA has some connections to exploit this off season. If we could get an Isaias and a Cirio we would be so much more dangerous.

So, very little said this morning, but BOTH A-League teams making the R16 at Asian Champions League for the first time - massive effort.

Sydney FC get Shandong Luneng (who knocked out Adelaide in the play-off)Melbourne Victory will find out their opponent later on tonight. It will be either Jeonbuk (9pts) or Jiangsu (8pts). Winner plays Melbourne. If it's a draw, Jeonbuk gets the assignment.

It's a strange feeling....sitting here watching the Wellington v Newcastle game and hoping for a Phoenix win. I should be wishing for every result to favour the Roar, but subconsciously I'm looking for a point to be proved. I hate what this season is doing to me.

It's a strange feeling....sitting here watching the Wellington v Newcastle game and hoping for a Phoenix win. I should be wishing for every result to favour the Roar, but subconsciously I'm looking for a point to be proved. I hate what this season is doing to me.

How come Reddy was not sent off?Got away with a yellow for a red card offence.It kept us in sixth spot i suppose but given WSW had a player sent off by the VAR for denying a goal scoring opportunity it seems inconsistent.

The new interpretation of the rule basically allows for a yellow if the player was making a genuine attempt at the ball. it is designed to avoid the "double jeopardy" situation, where a team can lose a player AND cop a penalty in the same incident. They consider that just one of those is sufficient punishment.Different story if the offending player was deliberately trying to take out the attacking player to stop the goal.